Every day for the past 10 years a Bay of Plenty woman thanks her lucky stars she wasn't one of the hundreds of Kiwi women to suffer complications as a result of a surgical mesh implant.

Recently Health Minister Jonathan Coleman announced the Government will support a number of recommendations made in a Health Select Committee's report into surgical mesh.

The Government will support a number of recommendations made in a Health Select Committee's report into surgical mesh released last week. File Photo.

Surgical mesh is a net-like product used to treat a variety of ailments such as bowel and organ prolapses, hernia repairs, or urinary incontinence in women.

The select committee report, tabled in Parliament last Wednesday, responds to a petition lodged by Auckland women Carmel Berry and Charlotte Korte who both suffered complications due to their mesh implants and sought an inquiry into its use.

'I have every sympathy for people who have experienced issues with surgical mesh products. I'd like to thank the petitioners for highlighting their concerns, as well the submitters and the committee for their deliberations,” says Jonathan.

'Legislative work is currently underway on a new comprehensive regime for all therapeutic products, this will include modernising medical device requirements. The Ministry of Health will also consider and consult on options for a registry to record the use of surgical mesh.”

Earlier this year Farifax reported 421 people lodged claims with ACC for mesh-related injuries that over a three year period to March 2013. Of those claims, only 297 were accepted and cost taxpayers $2,156,562.

Rotorua woman Susan ‘Sue' Atkinson says she required a mesh implant after her stitches burst while recovering from surgery to remove a 1.5kg stomach tumour about 10 years ago. This created a hernia which Sue lived with for roughly a year until she had the mesh implanted in her stomach.

Life was miserable during this time, Sue couldn't work, her tummy was constantly sore and she says she was lugging around the hernia like large handbag.

'After the operation was done and the mesh was implanted, my intestines were contained and in the right place, and weren't poking out the sides,” she recalls.

'It took me a few years to come right, but once I healed I felt like a brand new woman to some degree. You're not the same as before, it's abnormal, but you're a hell of a lot better than what you were before the operation.”

Sue doesn't know why she was spared from complications, while hundreds of other Kiwis have suffered. It could have been the surgical mesh, the surgeon, or just simply the way her body has healed.

And while she's thankful, Sue feels an incredible amount of empathy for everyone who has suffered as a result of their mesh implant.

'I've heard some harrowing stories about this mesh, they have heaps of problems. I feel so incredibly lucky I've not had a problem. And I thank my lucky stars every day, I really do. My first operation was a disaster, but my second op when I had the mesh inserted was brilliant.

'But I feel bloody sorry for everyone who has suffered, I don't know, I wish they could have had my surgeon because he was fantastic. But I guess everyone is different in how they heal,” says Sue.

THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE HEALTH SELECT COMMITTEE REPORT INCLUDES:

• Investigate options for establishing and maintaining a centralised surgical mesh registry, consistent with international recording of surgical mesh complications;
• Communicates with medical colleges to review best practice around informed consent for surgical mesh patients;
• Encourages health providers to ensure coding information is consistent and patients with mesh complications can be identified and monitored;
• Encourages utilisation of the adverse events reporting system as applicable;
• Endorses ongoing education for surgeons on the use of surgical mesh and mesh removal surgery;
• Considers expanding Medsafe's role to assess the quality and safety of medical devices.